Himali is a family doctor who works in a busy Auckland general practice and in the prison system. She is also a well-known writer of short stories, essays, articles, flash fiction and poetry, and was the inaugural Verb Wellington Writers Resident in October 2020.

Last month Himali's book The Unexpected Patient was released and tells stories of life, death and unforgettable clinical cases in vulnerable communities.

Himali lives in Auckland with her husband Ian McInnes, CEO of Tearfund.